New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-31
THE cONSTTTUTyONS CENTENARY

THE CONSTITUTIONS CENTENARY.
The indications are that the celebration at
Philadelphia next month Of the hundredth
anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution
will be an imposing affair and worthy of the
great historic event it will commemorate. This
will be owing TO the local pride and patriotic
zeal of the people of the city and State, whose
celebration it is, Congress having taken no
action regarding it. But the occasion will
not lack dignity or impressiveness on that
account, and all the distinction that official
sane ton can give it. it will have. The Presi-
dent and several members of the Cabinet will
be present, as they should be- and the Cover
nors of number of the States. 1t would
give the celebration a historic completeness
if tho Governors of all the thirteen original
States could be there. There will be speeches
in plenty, great industrial parade, and as a
conclusion a banquet at which all the distin-
guished guests will be entertained by eight
learned bodies of the city, including some OF
the oldest societies in America. Philadelphia
is, like Boston, strong in patriotic sentiment
and has population sufficiently American and
sufficiently homogeneous to know something
of the cty's history and to cherish it with
pride. No doubt the celebranon Will DC
worthy
But the interest of the occasion is by no
means confined to the boundaries of Phila-
delphia, or even to our country. The Consti-
tuition Of the United States has been, ever
since its adoption, the study and admiration
of the best minds throughout the world, and
the celebration of the close Of its hundred
wears of successful operation may well attract
the attention of the people of other lands. Mr..
Gladstone, one of the most profound political
students of this generation, has said: " The
American Constitution is as far as | can see,
the most wonderful work ever struck off at
given time by the brain and purpose OF man"
The longer it stands, fitting the needs OF a
Nation of sixty millions or more
as well as it did those of a
Nation of three millions, the greater
must be the admiration of mankind for 1T
Every day that is added to the peaceful and
prosperous existence of the United States is
powerful though silent sermon for de-
mocracy. to which the world is growing more
and more attentive. 1t is curious enough TO
contrast with the tone of universal admira-
ton with which this instrument is now re-
garded the outcries of diStrust and even oil
horror with which it was received by some
of our most patriotic men. There was Patrick
Henry no great lawyer or statesman either
but chief of patriots, who said 1t had " an
awful squirting toward monarchy In tho
New York Convention there was a majority
of only four votes in its favor on the final
vote, and this was apparently due to the spell
of Hamilton's eloquencc. The Massachusetts,
~. III Niruipio conventions |
were almost equally divided. North Carolina
and Rhode Island at first rejected it altogether.
We are wiser than our grandfathcrs-a hun
drcd years wiser
We take it for granted that Governor Hill
will be there TO represent this State New
York was "a little slow, perhaps, to give in
her adhesion TO the Constitution. She was the
eleventh State to approve it, and, In iact'
before she did so the approval OF New lamp
shire, the ninth State. established The new
Union. The order Of precedence, however,
is of no great consequence New-lori< bore
disting uished part, not only in the formation |
of the Constitution but in the earnest contro-
ycrsy that ended in its adoption. Hamilton
and Jay, two of the authorj of "The Federal
ist. were of Now York. And there can be
no QOuDI INdJ INC bcHlllIlCut VI "a ihhJpiiNy vi
the people, especially in this city, was for the
Constitution The great trade procession
which was arranged here for effect upon the
tardy convention at Poughkeepsie was proof
of this. From the historians accounts this
would have made a good showing even beside
tho great demonstration they Will have IN
Five thousand people marched
and the line was a mile and half long. Per
haps this was slight exaggcration for New
ork was then only tidy little town OF barely
20 900 people, but it was a great procession.
IL is doubtful whether there has been any
thing quite equal to it since-a brilliant and
picturesque display of the trades with the
men at work, tho judges and lawyers in their
gowns, the Regents of the University and the
Faculty and students Of Columbia College.
the Chamber of Commerce. clcrgymcn doctors,
gentlemen etc. On the following Thursday
the convention approved tic Constitution, and
by Saturday night the news had logged down
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